National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease and Stroke

Subject : Health

Concept :

About NPCDCS Scheme

The objective of the NPCDCS scheme to increase awareness of risk factors, to set up infrastructure (like NCD clinics, cardiac care units) and to carry out opportunistic screening at primary health care levels.
In response to the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020,India is the first country to adopt the National Action Plan with specific national targets and indicators aimed at reducing the number of global premature deaths from NCDs by 25% by 2025.

Sub Components:

Integration of NPCDCS with the National Health Mission (NHM) resulted into augmented infrastructure and human resources particularly in the form of frontline workers- the ANM and the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA).
Prevention and management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic Kidney disease (CKD), and better management of co-morbidities such as diabetes and tuberculosis are also considered under the programme.
Integration of Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) NPCDCS is a further step for promoting healthy lifestyle changes among the population.
Health promotion through social media is also being used to generate awareness about prevention and control of NCDs, such as use of mobile technology in applications called mDiabetes for diabetes control, mCessation to help quit tobacco, and no more tension as a support for mental stress management.

About Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs)

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are medical conditions or diseases that are not caused by infectious agents.
These are chronic diseases of long duration, and generally slow progression and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behaviours factors.
These diseases are those chronic conditions that lead to high levels of disability and death among children, adolescents and young adults if left undiagnosed or untreated.
NCDs include heart diseases, cancers, diabetes, asthma among others.
Globally, NCDs are the main cause of morbidity and mortality.
They account for 71% of global mortality, according to World Health organisation (WHO).